BOARD OF
SKAMANIA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Meeting
for Week of October 2, 2007
A special meeting was held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, October
1, 2007 at the Commissioner’s Meeting Room, 240 NW Vancouver Avenue in
Stevenson, with Commissioners Paul Pearce, Chair, James D. Richardson and Jamie
Tolfree present, for the purpose of holding budget workshops.
The
Board participated in 2008 Preliminary Budget workshops with the following
departments, with no action taken: Sheriff, Jail, Jail Work Crew, Inmate
Welfare, Boating Safety, Drug Fund, Investigation Fund, E911, Emergency
Management, and Animal Control.
The
meeting recessed at 12:05 p.m. Monday, October 1, 2007 and reconvened at 1:00
p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Pearce, Richardson and Tolfree present.
The
Board participated in 2008 Preliminary Budget workshops with the following
departments, with no action taken: District Court and Probation.
The
meeting recessed at 1:40 p.m. Monday, October 1, 2007 and reconvened at 2:20
p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Pearce, Richardson and Tolfree present.
The
Board participated in 2008 Preliminary Budget workshops with the following
departments, with no action taken: Senior Services, Senior Services, Inc.,
Auditor, Auditor O&M, Elections, and Veteran’s Relief.
The
meeting recessed at 3:20 p.m. Monday, October 1, 2007 and reconvened at 3:40
p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Pearce, Richardson and Tolfree present.
The
Board participated in 2008 Preliminary Budget workshops with the following
departments, with no action taken: Assessor and Noxious Weed Control.
The
meeting concluded at 4:05 p.m. Monday, October 1, 2007.
The Board met at 9:50 a.m. on Tuesday, October 2, 2007 at
the Commissioner’s Meeting Room, 240 NW Vancouver Avenue in Stevenson, with Commissioners
Paul Pearce, Chair, James D. Richardson and Jamie Tolfree present, for an
update from the Prosecutor regarding a breach of contracts with Summerland
Enterprises. Commissioner Tolfree
moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried unanimously to
authorize the Chair to sign a stop work letter to Summerland Enterprises.
The meeting was called to order at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday,
October 2, 2007 at the Commissioner’s Meeting Room, 240 NW Vancouver Avenue in
Stevenson, with Commissioners Paul Pearce, Chair, James D. Richardson and Jamie
Tolfree present, opening with the Pledge of Allegiance.
Tom Drach of Underwood advised of his interest in local
economic development and his interest in long-term county policies and vision
with regards to projects such as the Saddleback Mountain wind energy project.
Commissioner
Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried
unanimously to approve the Consent Agenda as follows:
1.
Minutes
for week of September 25, 2007.
2.
Notice
of Completion of Public Works contract with Kodiak Benge Construction for Hot
Springs Avenue Grind and Overlay Project.
3.
Acknowledge
receipt of letter advising of name change of local TV cable provider from
Millennium Digital Media to Broadstripe.
4.
Acknowledge
submission of grant application to WA State Dept of Agriculture for funding for
an outdoor performance theater stage on Skamania County fairgrounds for use by
Skamania County Fair & Timber Carnival and other users.
5.
Contract
with Zakula Beal Auctioneers to sell ER&R surplus vehicles and equipment at
public auction.
6.
Agreement
with Greater Columbia Behavioral Health for Mental Health Block Grant funds for
non-Medicaid covered medications and psychiatric services for stabilization of
non-Medicaid consumers.
7.
Agreement
between Skamania County Counseling Center and Skamania County Juvenile
Department to provide intensive outpatient treatment for youth placed under
Chemical Dependency Disposition Alternative.
8.
Contract
with James Dean Construction for Salmon Falls Park and Ride and Canyon Creek
Road Realignment Project.
9.
Change
order #1 to contract with Petersen Brothers for Countywide Safety Improvements
increasing the amount by $7,656.35 to allow for the estimated number of eight,
nine, and eleven foot posts required for guardrail installation.
Larry Douglass, Public Works Director reported on the Rock Creek Slide,
Conveyance Project, and Timber Removal Project, private road ordinance,
dewatering wells, Underwood Fire, Engineering projects, County Road projects,
ER&R, Solid Waste, and Building Department.
Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by
Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to approve contract
amendment #1 with Skamania County Mosquito Control District to extend the term
to October 31, 2007 for implementation of the mosquito control plan for the
Home Valley area.
Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner
Richardson and motion carried unanimously to approve a proclamation declaring
the month of October 2007 as Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention Month.
The
meeting recessed at 10:20 a.m. Tuesday, October 2, 2007 and reconvened at 10:30 a.m. the same date, with Commissioners
Pearce, Richardson and Tolfree present.
Karen
Witherspoon, Planning and Community Development Director reported on scheduling
the Swift Moratorium repeal, an upcoming Columbia River Gorge Commission
meeting, status of the private road ordinance, Assistant Planner positions,
office space, permit meetings, and attendance at the American Planning
Association Joint Washington/Oregon Planner’s Conference.
The
meeting recessed at 10:35 a.m. Tuesday, October 2, 2007 and reconvened at 10:45 a.m. the same date, with Commissioners
Pearce, Richardson and Tolfree present.
Ole
Helgerson, WSU Cooperative Extension Agent gave updates on administration, WSU
Horizons Project, 4-H program, forestry, gardening and pest management, Title
III programs, and the GIS Committee.
The
Board met in executive session regarding personnel from 11:00 a.m. until 11:05
a.m., with no action taken.
Linda
Schneider, Director of Washington Gorge Action Programs (WGAP), gave an update
on programs and services provided by WGAP and advised that the Stevenson Branch
Office located at 25 Second Street is open three days per week.
The
Board participated in a 2008 Preliminary Budget workshop for the following,
with no action taken: General Services - Food Bank.
The
meeting recessed at 11:35 a.m. Tuesday, October 2, 2007 and reconvened at 1:20 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners
Pearce, Richardson and Tolfree present.
The
Board met in executive session regarding personnel from 1:20 p.m. until 2:20
p.m., with no action taken.
The
meeting recessed at 2:20 p.m. Tuesday, October 2, 2007 and reconvened at 2:30 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners
Pearce, Richardson and Tolfree present.
The
Board participated in 2008 Preliminary Budget workshops with the following
departments, with no action taken: County Road, Building and Well, Solid Waste,
and Equipment Rental and Revolving Fund.
The
Board met in executive session regarding personnel from 3:35 p.m. until 3:45
p.m., with no action taken.
The
Board advised they would be joining representatives from Washington State
Association of Counties for dinner at 5:45 p.m. this evening at Skamania Lodge.
The
meeting recessed at 3:45 p.m. Tuesday, October 2, 2007 and reconvened at 9:15 a.m. Wednesday, October 3, 2007, with
Commissioners Pearce, Richardson and Tolfree present.
The
Board participated in a workshop with Public Works to discuss Rock Creek,
proposed private road ordinance, project reviews, county Engineer applications,
dewatering wells, and Underwood slopes and guardrail damage, with no action
taken.
The
Board participated in a staff workshop to discuss an upcoming Senator Murray
Community Meeting, with no action taken.
The
Board participated in a workshop with the Auditor to discuss payroll, with no
action taken.
The
meeting recessed at 11:15 a.m. Wednesday, October 3, 2007 and reconvened at
11:35 a.m. the same date, with Commissioner Pearce, Richardson and Tolfree
present.
The Board participated in a workshop with the
Recreation and Facilities Director to discuss the Search and Rescue building,
Courthouse remodel, Rock Creek Community Services building, and personnel, with
no action taken.
The
meeting recessed at 12:00 p.m. Wednesday, October 3, 2007 and reconvened at
1:00 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Pearce, Richardson and Tolfree
present.
Darlene
Dickson, Senior Services Director addressed the Board with several personnel
issues:
§
She
advised of the need for $2,100 in additional funds for on-call help for
approximately six weeks due to staffing shortages. Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree
and motion carried unanimously to authorize $2,100 for on-call help.
§
She
inquired as to the status of accrued annual leave and sick leave balances for
an employee who was working at 80% and would now be working at 50%, and is no
longer eligible to accrue annual or sick leave. The Board advised that the annual and sick leave balances would
remain on the books until used by the employee, so long as the employee is
still employed by Skamania County.
§
She
advised of an employee who works 60% time, approximately three days per week,
whose annual leave balance would exceed the maximum balance allowed in the
month of November. The Board advised
that the annual leave buy-back policy needed to be amended to allow for
pro-rated annual leave buy-back for part-time employees.
§
She
advised of an employee who submitted a claim for expenses for June, July and
August who was eligible for “wind chill” mileage between the place of
employment and clients homes. The Board
advised the mileage should be paid.
The Board participated in 2008 Preliminary Budget
workshops with the following departments, with no action taken: Board of
Equalization, Boundary Review Board, and General Services Contracts (Economic
Development Council, Chamber of Commerce, Domestic Violence, Interpretive
Center).
The
Board participated in 2008 Preliminary Budget workshops with the following
departments, with no action taken: Commissioners, Title III, Cumulative Reserve
(Contingent Liability, Salaries, Wages, Benefits, Loans); Hotel/Motel Tax,
Nuisance Control, Operating Transfers, General Services, and Civil Service.
The
Board met in executive session regarding personnel from 3:05 p.m. until 4:00
p.m., with no action taken.
The
meeting recessed at 4:00 p.m. Wednesday, October 3, 2007 and reconvened at 4:25
p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Pearce, Richardson and Tolfree present.
The
Board met in executive session regarding personnel from 4:25 p.m. until 5:05
p.m., with no action taken.
The
meeting recessed at 5:05 p.m. Wednesday, October 3, 2007 and reconvened at 9:30
a.m. Thursday, October 4, 2007, with Commissioner Tolfree present and
Commissioner Pearce present via phone.
Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Pearce and motion
carried to approve vouchers for the period ending October 4, 2007 in the total
amount of $147,162.58.
The
meeting adjourned at 9:35 p.m. Thursday, October 4, 2007.
BOARD OF
COMMISSIONERS
SKAMANIA
COUNTY, WASHINGTON